Obama unveils offshore drilling plans

[ASUG8]

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03 ... ing-plans/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

WASHINGTON -- In a reversal of a long-standing ban on most offshore drilling, President Barack Obama is allowing oil drilling 50 miles off Virginia's shorelines. At the same time, he is rejecting some new drilling sites that had been planned in Alaska.

Obama's plan offers few concessions to environmentalists, who have been strident in their opposition to more oil platforms off the nation's shores. Hinted at for months, the plan modifies a ban that for more than 20 years has limited drilling along coastal areas other than the Gulf of Mexico.


Good? Bad? Discuss.

[93henfan]

There's oil off of Virginia's coast?

I don't have much heartburn with drilling anywhere that isn't a known sensitive area for wildlife or endangered species/habitats. For instance, it would probably piss me off if Exxon drilled through the Great Barrier Reef, but it wouldn't concern me at all if they were drilling into a relatively lifeless, sandy sea bottom.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

A couple of years ago, gas went up over $4 a gallon and the American public, with their Chicken Little mentality, panicked. People started shouting, “We have to do something! Drill! Drill!” Even though it was well documented that drilling our coast lines would do little to combat rising oil and gas costs, public opinion had swayed enough toward the pro drilling end of the spectrum that oil company lobbyists recognized the political opportunity and started full force into pushing legislation that would lift coastal drilling bans.

The sad truth is that the only parties that will see any tangible benefit from drilling our shorelines are the oil companies themselves. The American public panicked and we got duped as a result. The sad thing is that once this is done, it cannot be undone and many of our beautiful coastal areas could be forever ruined.

Pretty fucking sad if you ask me.

[OSBF]

stupid, dumb, moronic

[93henfan]

Suncoast, I am by no means a fan of big oil, but it sounds like these platforms will be nowhere near viewing distance from a coastline (unlike say the CA coastline between Point Conception and LA where you can see numerous oil derricks right from the beach).

I admittedly don't know much about oil drilling. Does anyone know the potential for spillage usage modern techniques? It would obviously be horrible to see oil hit a beach.

[OSBF]

I admittedly don't know much about oil drilling. Does anyone know the potential for spillage usage modern techniques? It would obviously be horrible to see oil hit a beach.

there is always risk, no such thing as a 100% certainty it can't/won't happen

[wildkyle]

Wow Obama does something I agree with. Alot of people that lived in Florida oppose this drilling but I support it.

[Baldy]

Broken promise number........fvck, I can't remember.

[youtube][/youtube]

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Suncoast, I am by no means a fan of big oil, but it sounds like these platforms will be nowhere near viewing distance from a coastline (unlike say the CA coastline between Point Conception and LA where you can see numerous oil derricks right from the beach).

I admittedly don't know much about oil drilling. Does anyone know the potential for spillage usage modern techniques? It would obviously be horrible to see oil hit a beach.

Even without spillage the drilling will stir up silt and murk up the water. Crystal blue water becomes browinsh gray. Some spillage is also likely to occur. Maybe not enought to present a major ecological threat, but enough that fuck up the beach.



To me, there is simply not enough benefit to the end consumers to make any of this worthwhile. The oil companies already have ownership of extremely large, deep water oil reserves, but it simply is not cost effective for them to drill there. Shallow water drilling is much, much cheaper operation and the oil companies have been waiting to get there hands on these reserves for a lot of years. Recent high gas prices and the resulting panic provided the political opportunity they have been waiting for.

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Wow Obama does something I agree with. Alot of people that lived in Florida oppose this drilling but I support it.

Why?

[wildkyle]

Wow Obama does something I agree with. Alot of people that lived in Florida oppose this drilling but I support it.

Why?

What do you mean? Why I agree with him or why do the majority oppose it?

[SunCoastBlueHen]

Why?

What do you mean? Why I agree with him or why do the majority oppose it?

Why do you support it?

[travelinman67]

Opening up land leases off the coast of VA, while keeping AK, CA and the Gulf under restriction...

...and putting the timeline as 2012?

This was nothing more than a political move to shore up voter support for the 2010 midterms.

More Dem lies and obstruction.

[bandl]

Virginia Beach sucks anyways. As long as this doesn't effect my OBX in NC...

[Ibanez]

aren't you conks the same ones that wanted bush to do this?

[Wedgebuster]

Have yet to be in a clean, pretty, and pristine oil patch and there are plenty where I live.

Probably is a political stunt, but agreeing 100% with suncoast here, drilling will benefit nobody but big oil, and their employees.

[Ibanez]

When can we harness beer farts and use them for energy?

[Baldy]

Opening up land leases off the coast of VA, while keeping AK, CA and the Gulf under restriction...

...and putting the timeline as 2012?

This was nothing more than a political move to shore up voter support for the 2010 midterms.

More Dem lies and obstruction.

You're right about the political move, but this is precursor to Cap and Tax....wait and see.

[dbackjon]

Broken promise number........fvck, I can't remember.

[youtube][/youtube]

Obama Opens the Door to Offshore Drilling
By Jonathan Weisman
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Sen. Barack Obama suggested he could accept an expansion of offshore oil drilling today if it is in a broader package of energy measures that would free the logjam on energy bills in Congress.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama said in an interview with The Palm Beach Post.

"If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage -- I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."

Republicans have consistently said they could craft legislation that would expand oil exploration on the outer continental shelf without jeopardizing delicate shoreline habitats. But Democratic leaders in Congress have been ardently opposed. Environmental groups, a key constituency, have been unyielding in their opposition.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/44/2008/ ... ffsho.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

If Bush does this........NO! NO! your wrecking our environment!!!!! Quit befriending big oil and put some money into alternative energy you idiot war mongering bigot stupid head!!


If Hussein Obama does this, well its the right thing to do and its about time! This guy has a clear agenda on how to get our economy going again. Brilliant move and hes doing it the "right way".

Baldy and T-man have it right, its a political move and nothing more.

Hey bro whers da alternativ energy goin come from? From Hussein Obama o coursz right afta he git dun with da oil mon.

[grizzaholic]

If Bush does this........NO! NO! your wrecking our environment!!!!! Quit befriending big oil and put some money into alternative energy you idiot war mongering bigot stupid head!!


If Hussein Obama does this, well its the right thing to do and its about time! This guy has a clear agenda on how to get our economy going again. Brilliant move and hes doing it the "right way".

Baldy and T-man have it right, its a political move and nothing more.

Hey bro whers da alternativ energy goin come from? From Hussein Obama o coursz right afta he git dun with da oil mon.

[OSBF]

If Bush does this........NO! NO! your wrecking our environment!!!!! Quit befriending big oil and put some money into alternative energy you idiot war mongering bigot stupid head!!


If Hussein Obama does this, well its the right thing to do and its about time! This guy has a clear agenda on how to get our economy going again. Brilliant move and hes doing it the "right way".

Baldy and T-man have it right, its a political move and nothing more.

Hey bro whers da alternativ energy goin come from? From Hussein Obama o coursz right afta he git dun with da oil mon.

has one single person here said this is a good idea?

[Wedgebuster]

Sarah Palin, drill baby drill!!

[wildkyle]

We need to have more oil supply. I was saying when Bush was in charge and I am saying now that Obama is there.

[Appaholic]

Assuming there are oil reserves where it is economically beneficial to extract, I have no problem with this decision. The areas are not protected wilderness & Americans have not adjusted their lifestyle to accomodate the depletion of this natural resource. Therefore, we should be willing to drill what resources we have to support our overly packaged lifestyle....